The Big Book of Cross-Stitch Design: Over 900 Simple-to-Sew Decorative Motifs Hardcover – March 15, 2007

Most of the time when I open a cross stitch book I find some basic instructions, occassional additional stitch instructions, supplies, materials and then a selection of motifs or samplers etc. Usually the chapters cover the types of motifs used in the book or specific pieces of work. Sometimes they go by themes. Many times I find a piece here and there, perhaps several pieces, that I want to make. This book is different. It is exceptional in almost every area. I found myself lingering over most of the pages and wondering which design to do first. The focus is on presentation. Sometimes you see the motifs on pillows, bags, clothing, samplers, table linens etc. Always, the piece is showcased to bring out the best in the design. I found the directions and the charts easy to follow although I would take the book to Kinkos and have the charts enlarged. They are color coded but also symbol coded and that can be hard to read in the smaller print size required to fit the book. This is a beautiful book and very interesting. The choices are novel, not "Ha Ha." The selection is extrordinary. It is a collection of the best of the best and the pieces are simple. The motifs have pizzazz. You don't see these everday. Some are designed with the option of embellishment but you can always leave this out. If you can only afford one cross stitch book and want to do more contemporary work, or use bright and beautiful color get this book. If on the other hand you are looking for a muted book or a single themed book, this is not the one for you. But for most of us this would make a welcome addition to our collections. There is a bit of everything here. It features lots of variety in many categorys. The floral section and the Samplers alone are well worth the price of the book and you get so very much more. It's like openning a package on Christmas morning and finding exactly the right gift inside. However, it is a bit shy on the alphabet choices. Oh well, I guess you can't have everything in one book or we wouldn't buy any others. I'm drawn to the unique Samplers. The are lovely and you can lift the unusual motifs and use them very successfully on their own. So, I like this book very much and I think it will get a great deal of use.

As someone new to cross stitch I find this book to be the all-in-one book I needed. It shows me how to do the different stitches, and has many projects and patterns to choose from. This is a really great book for beginners as there are simple patterns and more complex patterns. I see this book providing hours of entertainment for years to come as I learn more about this craft. The book it’s self is well made and very heavy. The paper is thick and meant to be used as a reference for years. Also the photos are clear and the patterns are easy to read. You don’t really see many books of this quality. I hope the publisher creates a part 2 to this book. Though with all the projects and patterns it would take years to go though the book and create every project. Highly recommended for beginners.

There were lots of cross stitch patterns I'd like to make - some are beyond my ability today but, as I grow in experience, I hope to be able to do more of the patterns. Lovely book!

Some cross stitch books look a little childish or simple. This book has projects with great detail and when the project is done it looks amazing. I am very happy with it.

This is in great shape, price was awesome. Thanks!!

I have bad eyesight but this book is very easy to see and even easier to follow. If you're a beginner, then this book would be good for you! It is organized into categories, each category having mostly stylish designs. I actually made my daughter a fairy from one and it turned out beautifully! It has designs for all occasions and types of cross stitching (quilts, hand towels, Kleenex boxes, etc...). The pages also stay open easily if you have it in your lap following it (which is what I do).

I REALLY LIKE IT, THE PATTERNS ARE WELL EXPLAINED, THE CHARTS ARE CLEAR GIVING YOU EVEN THE COLOR BY NAME, SOME OTHER BOOKS I HAD BUY ONLY BRING THE NUMBER OF THE COLOR THREAT, NOT IN THIS CASE, IT SAYS GREEN, AND YOU GET TO DECIDE IF WANT IT DARK GREEN OR LIGHTER, THAT A PLUS, BECAUSE I DON"T ONLY USE THE COLOR CHARTS TO DO CROSS STITCHING, I USE IT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF RUG WITH HOOK AND LATCH AND KNITTING DETAILS IN DIFFERENT GARMENTS SO IT REALLY HELPS. tHE BOOK IS EASY TO READ AND WITH STRONG BINDING.

This purchase was viewed by my co-worker and she doesnt even cross-stitch and she loved it. She was asking about the ease of cross-stitching and if I thought she could do it and I said sure anyone can learn this craft. So I gave her some instructions and she said it sounded pretty simple. I informed her about the web site that I purchased the book on and I am sure she will look it up and make a purchase. I hope she enjoys it as much as I do.